ABU DHABI Ñ Oman has allocated land for the construction of a $120 million air force base meant for use by U.S. fighter-jets in the Persian Gulf.

Omani defense officials said the sultanate has drafted plans for an air force base that would be able to handle advanced Western fighter-jets as well as air command and control facilities. They said the base would be located at Al Musnana, 120 kilometers west of the capital Muscat and that a timetable for the project has been set.

Oman plans to launch a bid for the base and completion of the project is expected within 18 months of a contract award. The facility, which was first proposed a decade ago, will contain a 4.3-kilometer runway and is meant to handle the huge Western military cargo aircraft and bombers.

The official Omani News Agency quoted a Defense Ministry source as saying that the base would belong to the sultanate. The source ruled out the prospect that the planned facility would be owned or controlled by the United States.

"The new airport will be used exclusively as an Omani air base," the source said. "His Majesty's government did not and will not allow the construction of foreign military bases on its territories."

The source said the air force would transfer its assets from an Omani air base at Seeb Airport to Musnana. He said Seeb would be expanded to handle international civilian traffic.

Gulf defense sources said the United States is funding construction of a $120 million air base in Oman. The sources said the facility will be suitable for any U.S. military aircraft, including the B-52 strategic bomber.

Oman is one of several Gulf Cooperation Council states that is being prepared by Washington as alternatives to Saudi Arabia. Oman is regarded as one of the closest allies of the United States in the Persian Gulf.

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